Kwami Maranga, Binghamton University

While recent releases may be following larger trends, the music also reveals something interesting about a genre defined by love songs.

Maggie Habermas, University of Texas at San Antonio

The music icon has endured a long road, filled with hits and heartbreaks, to find her soon-to-be husband.

Rory Conlon, De Anza College

Ahead of the singer’s first album in almost five years, ’30,’ let’s look back at some of the defining moments of her career.